The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-06-30

beauty Her father had lost all his
property and died, and Mrs. Sergeant.
a faraway cousin, took Fanny for
companion, whereupon Ellis promptly
fell in love with her and she with
him"
Here the scarlet wool Amy was
working in became hopeless tangle
Mrs. Sergeant, strange to say, was
delighted, although Ellis is an only
child, and Fanny had not a penny,
and everything was charming, the en-
gagement announced, the tr0uSSeau in
preparation, when Ellis was taken i'll
with malarious fever-dreadfully i'll,
delirious and all that. While he was
still very low, the house took fire in
the night.
There was a woman from the hos
pital, sitting up at night with Ellis,
and it was afterwards found she
drank, and the supposition was that
she dropped a spark in one of the
lower rooms. At any rate, she
promptly ran when she awoke to find
the flames around her. leaving her
patient to take care of himself.
Mrs. Sergeant was carried out
bodily, and Fanny, waking with the
confusion, partly dressed herself, and
rushed to the room where Ellis lay in
a heavy stupor, partially sutfOcated,
they said afterwards.
''She threw the contents of the
water-pitcher over him, dragged him
think of it, Amy-actually dragged
him across the room to the window,
where some men had just raised
ladder. Fanny lifted him partly, and
the man at the top got firm hold of
him, just as the floor gave way, and
Fanny fell through.
ELLIS was unhurt, though very i'll
for long time, but when Fanny was
taken out, her face was horribly
burned, her eyes entirely destroyed,
and she had some internal injuries
that are slowly draining her life away.
But Ellis never seems to see the mask
that replaces Fanny's beauty. He is
as devoted to her as when he first
loved her, and he would marry her to-
morrow if she would consent"
''And she?" Amy asked.
'She will not marry him. | cannot
tell you much about it, Amy, for the
Sargeants do not talk of their affairs.
Mother is very intimate with Mrs.
Sergeant, and has helped Fanny in
some of her bad attacks, so | know
more than most folks about them.
The gong! What are you going to
wear at dinner?"
She fitted away, and Amy, believ-
ing herself alone, let the sob she had
been strangling have its way, and
wept bitterly for some moments.
Then she, too, went to her room.
Presently the door of the darkened
room opened softly, and a low voice
asked:
asleep, Fanny?" Followed in
stantly by: Crying, Fanny? What
troubles you?" And gentle hands lift
ed the girls head to resting-place on
Ellis Sargeant's bosom, while strong
arms Graded the slight trembling
figure. ''What is it, darling?" he
asked tenderly. ''Is the pain worse?"
''No. L Ellis, why has no one
ever told me my blindness was not the
only injury that fell upon my face?
You have been so true to me, my love
my dear love-but | did not know |
was an object Of horror and disgust"
You! Who has dared to tell you
that?"
mo one has told me. / might have
guessed might have known-what
all these scars and seams looked like;
but | did not think of that. Ellis, do
not kiss me. Do not hold me in your
arms. You are free from all vows to
me. | told you | would not burden
your life with a blind wife, but-but-
| did not think there might be other
girls as pretty as | was once, who"
''Hush!' he interrupted, his voice
stern in the effort he made to keep it
steady. ''Hush! You insult me! You
be unfaithful to you than if we had
exchanged the VOWS we once hoped to
speak at Gods altar. You are mine,
Fanny
But you are not mine, 1t must
not, shall not be, Ellis. Your life
shall not be wasted an hour longer in
this mockery of an engagement. You
have been my dear brother only, Ellis,
since | lost my eyes; give me a sis
ter's love, too, give your mother
daughter"
''She has one" was the quiet reply.
''Do not speak of this again, Fanny.
1t pains me more than | can tell you;"
and he put her back gently as his
mother entered the room, dressed for
dinner.
But he missed Amys bright face at
the table, and wondered, when he saw
her late in the afternoon, at the pallor
of her checks, and wistful tender
ness in her eyes.
What did she guess, he wondered,
and how had Fanny learned the strug-
gle he was enduring? Not for one
instant had his loyalty wavered, not
one thought of deserting the woman
who had saved his life at such fear
full price had ever crossed his mind;
but there was a strange pain in meet
ing Amy, and fierce jealousy would
seize him when other men paid her
attentions.
She was surprised that evening by
request from Mrs. Sargeant to spend
an hour in Fanny's room. What ques-
tons Margaret had been brought to
answer Fanny alone knew, but her
heart told her during the evening,
when Ellis and Amy devoted them
selves to her service, the secret those
two were sure was securely hidden.
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